Environmental Science
Environmental Science is the interdisciplinary study of the natural environment and the ways in which human activities affect it. It draws on biology, chemistry, earth science, physics and social science to understand the processes that regulate the planet's systems, the nature and scale of environmental threats such as climate change, pollution, habitat loss and resource depletion, and the scientific basis for the policies and technologies needed to address them. As the urgency of the global environmental crisis has grown, so has the demand for scientifically literate graduates who can contribute to the understanding and management of environmental change.
At the University of Portsmouth, this full-time three-year programme is accredited by the Institution of Environmental Sciences, and includes a sandwich placement year, a year abroad and work placement opportunities that give you substantial practical and international experience alongside your academic studies. You will develop an understanding of the human threats to the natural world and build the scientific skills, fieldwork capabilities and analytical tools needed to assess environmental impacts, monitor change and develop solutions for a more sustainable future. The placement and international experiences connect your learning directly to professional environmental science practice.
Environmental Science graduates go on to careers in environmental consultancy, conservation, climate science, pollution control, water and waste management, environmental regulation, sustainability in the corporate sector, international development and academic research. Government agencies, environmental NGOs, engineering consultancies, the energy sector, local authorities and international organisations all employ environmental scientists. The combination of scientific rigour and applied problem-solving the degree develops is particularly valued in roles that require the translation of scientific knowledge into policy or management action.
Many graduates go on to postgraduate study in environmental science, ecology, climate science or related fields.